Incoming Waterloo Siskins head coach Brian O'Leary, right, watches over a team practice with assistant Tony Cuzzi Monday at Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. O'Leary, a former major junior and minor professional coach, replaced Randy Harbach, who was fired by the team last week.

Siskins part ways with Harbach

(Editor’s note: This version was corrected from Wednesday’s edition of the Waterloo Chronicle that stated Waterloo Siskins assistant coach Trevor Ludolph was let go by the club. Ludolph, in fact, resigned.)

By Jordan ErcitChronicle Staff

Poof. Just like that, the Waterloo Siskins have a new coach.

The local junior-B outfit welcomed a third head coach into the fold in less than 18 months after Randy Harbach was let go and assistant Trevor Ludolph resigned last week in protest after a solid start to the GOJHL season.

In their place is former minor professional and major junior coach Brian O’Leary, who also spent time with the Owen Sound Greys before the franchise moved to Brampton over the summer.

The move, however, came as a surprise to players, some of whom played for Harbach in the Waterloo minor hockey ranks.

After a near-financial collapse in the summer of 2011 followed by a 17-win seventh-place season, the Siskins looked to be a much-improved unit in 2012-13. The team won seven of its first nine games and owned a 14-10-1 record when the team cut ties with Harbach.

“Nobody had an idea this was coming,” captain and leading scorer Adam Campagnolo said last week, before the Siskins lost 2-1 in overtime Friday to Caledonia. They beat Guelph 6-3 Saturday and lost 4-3 to Kitchener at home on Sunday.

“This is my first winning season (in three years) with the Siskins. I honestly have no idea why they got rid of him. I thought Randy held people accountable and I know a lot of guys appreciated that. He was honest and trustworthy. I’d put my entire hockey career in his hands.”

Siskins president Curtis Clairmont declined to discuss specifics, saying only that it was a “hockey decision and beyond that people can speculate as to why.”

When reached for comment Tuesday, Harbach said, “all that Curtis told me was he had a vision and basically I wasn’t part of his vision. That was it. That’s all I was told . . . and I didn’t pursue it. I didn’t even ask.”

Instead, Harbach said he wanted to take the high road and thank the players, Ludolph and three members of the Waterloo Siskins board of directors for their support.

“I thought our coaching staff was doing a fairly good job with that team,” said Harbach, who added he is likely done coaching hockey unless the right situation presents itself.

“Hey, the kids worked hard for me. That’s all I can ask.”

Despite their success, the Siskins had some issues of late. They owned an average record at home (5-5-1) compared to the best visiting mark in the conference (9-5-0) before Harbach’s departure. As well, their last eight losses before the weekend came after the team held an early lead.

But Clairmont wouldn’t cite specific examples, saying he preferred to talk about his new head-coaching candidate instead. About all he was willing to offer on Harbach and Ludolph was thanks for their dedication this season.

“When you get to higher levels of hockey, it’s a business and decisions are made,” Clairmont said, “and at the end of the day I’m at the pony end of the stick. At the end of the day, (general manager) Kevin Emke and Curtis Clairmont made a decision . . . and we’re accountable to that decision.”

As for O’Leary, the Owen Sound native brings 10 seasons of East Coast Hockey League and OHL coaching experience with the Phoenix Roadrunners, Cornwall Royals, Owen Sound Platers and Owen Sound Attack, including a 31-27-7-3 record as bench boss of the Attack in 2000-01.

He was also a player and former coach of the GOJHL’s Owen Sound Greys on two separate occasions — 1992-96 and 2001-04 — and spent time with the Ontario Junior ‘A’ Hockey League’s Huntsville Otters before agreeing to take over the Greys again after last season.

The Siskins, meanwhile, hit the home stretch before the Christmas break starting this weekend when they visit Listowel Friday at 7:30 p.m., before hosting Cambridge on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex.

On Saturday, the team hosts a Skate with the Siskins event. Prizes are available and fans can take shots on a Siskins goalie at Waterloo public square from 1 to 3 p.m.